All Aboard for West Delco’s Freedom Tour & Fireworks Show -- Saturday, Sept 16th!West Delco Historical Societies & Sites have created a month-long calendar of exciting history festivals, presentations and re-enactments. But the Jewel in their crown is an Eleven-Site "FREEDOM TOUR" that Commemorates the 240th Anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine and the subsequent retreat and pursuit.

This tour is offered by BUS, 10am to 1pm, with a historian guide on board (Tickets are $15) or you may follow the bus in your car, caravan style, for FREE! For tickets call 610-517-7962.
You can also drive the tour at your leisure, visiting some or all of these sites anytime between the hours of 10am and 3pm. THE BUS TOUR & CARAVAN LEAVES FROM the Concord Township Municipal Building, 43 S. Thornton Rd, Concord. Drivers following, should be in the parking lot by 9:45 am.

The tour features sites that were part of, or witness to, events surrounding the Battle of Brandywine. You will tour many of these sites, but there are also several places where only the ghosts remain...and in the case of the Ivy Paper Mill, only a few walls and foundation pieces have survived.

Nancy Webster (pictured right) will be the 'on-board' historian for the Bus Tour.Here's a list of the tour sites...to read much more about them, click on the web link at the bottom:

#1 Concord Meeting – 827 Concord Road, Concord, PA. Built in 1728, it was used as a hospital after the Battle of Brandywine.

#2 St. John's Episcopal Church, 576 Concord Rd, Concord. Founded in 1702, St. John's was a log house of worship at the time of the battle. It was used as a hospital by the British army and was a burial spot for an unknown number of their dead.

#3 Former Blacksmith Shop (now demolished) – located at the northeast corner of Valleybrook Rd and Foulk Rd.

During the War blacksmith (known as artificers) were assigned
to Ordnance Depots and tasked with making muskets and cannon. Walter
Denning developed a new process of making the molds...enabling the
production of larger cannon balls.

Though the building itself is gone, legend has it that the troops stopped here for repairs during the retreat.On the FREEDOM TOUR WEBSITE (link below) you can read about a local blacksmith known as "The Blacksmith of the Revolution."

#4 The Hannum House (A DRIVE-BY SITE) – 547 Concord Rd, Glen Mills
The main part of the house was built in c1695. Colonel John Hannum fought in the Revolution.

#5 Mt. Hope Methodist Church – 4020 Concord Rd, Aston, PA.
This was the site of a large part of the British Encampment.

#6 Seven Stars Inn – at 5 Points in Village Green, Aston (where the Zac's is now)
This was the headquarters of General Cornwallis.

#7 The Jonathan Martin House (A DRIVE BY SITE) – 767 Chester Creek Rd, Middletown. This is where several British soldiers stole household goods and molested 18 year-old Mary Martin & another young woman. Read more on the website.

# 8 Chichester Meeting – 611 Meetinghouse Rd, Upper Chichester. The site of a skirmish after the Battle of Brandywine….see where bullets grazed the stone wall and building.

#9 Newlin Gristmill – 219 Cheyney Rd, Concord. Discover the history beneath your feet during the Mill's Public Archaeology Project. Built in 1704, the mill witnessed the retreat of the American forces following the Battle of Brandywine.

#11 Walnut Hill – DRIVE BY SITE – (renamed in the 20th century to Hill of Skye) – 126 (officially 130) Walnut Hill Lane, Chester Heights. This 18th century farmhouse was taken over as the command center for the lst and 2nd British brigades under Major General Grant after the Battle of Brandywine

At 8PM they'll light up the sky with a

FREE FIREWORKS SHOW sponsored by Destination Delco(us!) At the Glen Mills School -- 185 Glen Mills Rd. Bring a blanket or chair.

This is a website for the FREEDOM TOUR (with history notes, photos, etc.)

Plus West Delco's Calendar of Revolutionary War Era festivals and events!

And then:Delco's WW1 Centennial Committee Invitesyou to explore the role Delco played during the Great War...

Put on your dancing shoes and dress in the style of the World War One Era (or in Black and White), and get your tickets NOW for the Social Event of the Year...Delco’s “Dance for Democracy” Friday, Sept. 22nd!

The Brookhaven Community Center will be hopping from 6 to 11pm as they re-create the popular WW1 Fundraising craze that swept cities and small towns all across America...Dances for Democracy! At first these dances raised funds for Europeans displaced and ravaged by the war. But later, after the US entered the war in 1917, the funds also supported our American Troops. This nostalgic tribute dance will feature great food, spirits and live music by Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society...

Click here for fun fashion ideas for WW1 era dance attire...

Get creative and wear vintage WW1 attire, or slip into something elegant (in black & white?) and spend an unforgettable evening with friends, neighbors and history buffs from all over the county.

Enjoy Beer, Democracy Punch and Vintage Sodas (Sodas not included in ticket price)

Scandalous Dances of the 19-teens may have contributed to the cancellation of the President Wilson's Inaugural Ball!

The Bunny Hug, the Turkey Trot, the Grizzly Bear and other so-called "animal dances" of the early 1900's were hugely popular, drawing partners closer together with more touching and embracing. In factfears that party-goers might do the Bunny Hug or Turkey Trot may have even led to the cancellation of the official inaugural ball of newly elected President Woodrow Wilson in the spring of 1913.

Visit WW1-relavant historic sites, cemeteries, memorials and museums...plus read about Delco's personal and community sacrifice and participation in the events of WW1

The Philadelphia Union Soccer Team has just inked a deal with Jay Cunliffe, making him the team's brand new CTO - Chief Tattoo Officer! Now there's a title to make CEO’s & CFO’s soooooo yesterday...

The Union began their search on Facebook and generated 150 applicants, some from as far away as Japan, Russia and England. The list was narrowed down over four rounds, until Jay and his art team at Bonedaddys Tattoo Studio in Aston, was the last 'tat' standing!

The partnership kicked off August 21st with Union team members getting gorgeous tattoos while Comcast Sports TV and other media types watched and marveled at the talent and skill of the artists - as well as the fearlessness of the tattoo recipients... ;)

Gotta love a Delco boy...
Justin Coyne, longtime client of Jay's
has permanently inked his Delco roots for all to see!

Jay, owner/founder/artist extraordinaire has been honing his skills for 14 years, and said he was “overjoyed and extremely excited to team up with the union.”

A Graphic Design graduate of the Hussian School of Art, he opened Bonedaddys in 2005.

Tore Fiore, Executive Director of Destination Delco, couldn't
resist having a little fun with this story...click on the photo to
read more about Bonedaddys and other true Delco Classics!

“I seemed to always know that I wanted something different, and I really gravitated to tattoo art,” explains Cunliffe. “All the guys here were art students, and like me they wanted to apply their training to something imaginative and personal. What could be more personal than placing your art on a person for a lifetime.”
"Since opening we have been putting out the highest quality artwork possible," he explains, crediting much of the shop's success to fellow artists Nate Cook, John Pohl, and Craig Blankley.

SOCCER FANS...Don’t forget there’s only one Philly Union home game this month! Get your tickets now for Sunday, Sept 23rd's game vs Chicago Fire.Click to Purchase Tickets

Dressage at Devon has been a premier North American Equestrian Event since it started in 1975. So if you love horses and would like to preview great ones of the future, high-step it over to Devon between Sept 26th and Oct 1st!

Dressage is a highly skilled form of riding performed in exhibition and competition, as well as an "art" sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. It is "the highest expression of horse training" where "horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements."

It combines a world-class dressage competition and the world’s largest open breed show - with the international Fall Festival show and special activities for the entire family. The six-day event attracts hundreds of riders from around the world and thousands of spectators.

“We are very proud to be able to continue to host the largest open breed show in the world,” said Melanie Sloyer, Chair of the Breed Show. “In addition to our age-based classes, our popular Individual Breed Classes showcases more than 20 breeds with a wide variety of some lesser known, and rare breeds seldom seen in other venues. Plus this year we are happy to welcome the Dales Pony.”

Nothing says Summer like an Arts Festival - so grab your kids, shades, and a few dollars and head out to the 15th Annual Lansdowne Arts on the Avenue Festival, on Sunday, Sept. 10th.Centered in the heart of historic downtown, in front of the Lansdowne Theater, this street-fest will draw 2,500+ for live music, art, crafts, food trucks, a pop-up Beer Garden and more!

The Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) is proud to present the Lansdowne Arts on the Avenue Festival from noon through 6 pm. Admission is FREE, and for easy access, Lansdowne Avenue will close and become a pedestrian-only thoroughfare between E. LaCrosse and Baltimore Avenues.

Conshohocken Brewing Company is back!

35+ local artists and makers will do demonstrations and sell their one-of-a-kind creations, in ceramics, photography, painting, drawing, jewelry, and mixed media.

There will be an Xscape Room featuring “live action escape games.”

The YMCA Kids’ Zone will be in the parking lot at 30 N. Lansdowne Avenue this year, with an inflatable obstacle course, jugglers, free arts and crafts and other free children's activities

Restaurants & Shops along Lansdowne Avenue will open throughout the day and into the evening, with several offering alfresco dining!

DETAILS:
The festival is a rain or shine event and is easily accessed by SEPTA. Free parking is available either on the side streets, at the municipal lot on N. Highland Avenue near Baltimore Ave. (behind the Dunkin’ Donuts) or in the two SEPTA train station lots only one
block from the Festival.

The Lansdowne Arts on the Avenue Festival is presented by the Lansdowne EconomicDevelopment Corporation (LEDC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to support, encourage and promote sustainable economic growth in the Borough of Lansdowne.Photos by Jeanne Ketcham, member of the LEDC staff.

They say that on any given day, you can hear 70+ languages being spoken on the Streets of Upper Darby, as well as nearby schools and adjacent towns. We know for a fact (via numerous luscious experiences!) that you will find some of the best International Cuisine in the region - along with dozens of unique shops offering multi-cultural treasures and beautiful wares from around the world. But on Saturday, Sept 23rd -- Upper Darby will be taking all of those things to 69th Street in the first ever Upper Darby International Festival celebrating global foods, music, dance, shopping and family fun!

On August 15th Mayor Tom Micozzie announced the festival's debut, which is co-hosted by Upper Darby Township and the Upper Darby Multicultural Commission. From Noon to 7pm the 69th Street Business District will be bursting at the seams, decked out in the gorgeous colors of diversity, with dozens of cultures represented along with 20 restaurants serving up authentic foods from a dozen nations.

The Inka Wall, an outstanding Peruvian Restaurant and Bar
is one of 20 eateries preparing food at the Festival

In front of the Tower Theater an outdoor stage will host live music and dance throughout the afternoon, including a live performance by the Philadelphia Suns Lion Dance Troupe.

Lion dancing, pictured at the top of this story, is a cultural activity that some members of the Philadelphia region's Asian American community participate in to stay close to their roots - and if you've never seen it in person, prepare to be mesmerized!

On the day of the festival, 69th Street between Market Street and Walnut Street will be closed to vehicles allowing attendees to stroll the length of “The Hill” at 69th Street. There will be an enclosed beer garden for those 21 and over, and 2 dozen stores will offer special deals throughout the day. A new Old Navy store will also celebrate its formal grand opening as part of the festival!Click here to read more about this exciting Delco Event!

Did you know water lilies are one of the oldest aquatic plants on earth? Fossils of early lilies show that their lily pads were up to 4' wide, but as they evolved over several thousands of years they morphed to the size we see today. Evidence of water lilies have even been found in European pre-ice age cave drawings!

One of the most beautiful and serene places at Longwood Gardens is tucked into a protected courtyard where a stunning summer display features water lilieswith massive water-platters (pads) and more than 100 types of both day and night-blooming tropical varieties... plus additional rare aquatic plants from all over the world!

According to Greek mythology, nymphs were
spirits of nature, often pictured in a
pool of water lilies.

September is your last chance to be swept away by this quiet garden experience, before their peak season comes to an end.

Tropical aquatics came to Longwood in 1957 with the opening of a 13-pool Waterlily Display. In 1989 the display was redesigned by Sir Peter Shepheard, into five larger, dramatic pools.
Our current knowledge of the Water Lily began early in the last century with a foreign man's discovery of a large & fragrant flower in the fresh water lagoons of the South American jungles. Natives called it Yrupe, meaning water platter. The large purplish-green leaves floated on the surface of the water providing resting spots for the local frog population.

The flowers, up to 12" inches wide opened at dawn, remained open all day and closed again after sunset. They released a powerful and strong smelling fragrance somewhat like that of crushed apples.

Today, there are water lilies in almost every decorative pond in the world. Learn more about this water garden and many other gardens: Longwood Gardens Website

Don't miss this exciting Fundraising Luncheon where the Museum is fielding 16 Delco sports celebrities -- and a memorable 'passing of the torch' (or in this case, a famous baseball bat) is also on the menu!

The event takes place 11am to 1pm, at the Sports Legends Museum of Delaware County in the Radnor Township Municipal Building.

Dan Baker will be the Master of Ceremonies and tickets ($25pp) must be purchased in advance. Pictured right are the 16 Delco Athletes you will be meeting and mingling with at the event.

A home run highlight will be the passing of a famous 'silver bat' ...It's story began in 1967:

In a photograph taken at the time, (below) former National League President Warren Giles is shown presenting to 1967 National league batting champion Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates the silver bat, emblematic of that achievement. (FYI:The National League Championship Trophy is now named in honor of the late Mr. Giles.)

Roberto Clemente was inducted into the
National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973,
becoming the first Latin American and
Caribbean player to be enshrined.

At the conclusion of the Luncheon, Bill Giles, son of Warren Giles and the former owner of the Philadelphia Phillies, will replicate his father's presentation by presenting that very same silver bat to its current owner, Steve Burman.

Steve will then present the bat to SLDC Museum officials, who will place the bat on display in the Mickey Vernon Gallery. Mickey himself was a silver bat winner in 1953. Roberto has a Triple Play connection with Delaware County's own Danny Murtaugh:The first was when Danny's Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series; the second was when Roberto was the starting right-fielder in a game in which Danny fielded baseball's first all-minority lineup on September 1, 1971; and the third was when Roberto was named MVP of the 1971 World Series, when the Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles.

I saw Baryshnikov dance 3 times at the Mann Music Center, including his final tour before retiring.Like most people reading this, my love for dance began with The Nutcracker when I was too small for my feet to touch the theater floor. Now, on September 16th and 17th, all lovers of dance, from students to ordinary people like you and me, can attend a Masterclass Weekend where 6 of the world's top dancers and choreographers will conduct Master classes in Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop, Jazz & Contemporary dance.

Local dance company, International Ballet Classique invites the public to be a fly on the wall - peeking behind the Wizard's curtain. Consider sharing the experience with a friend or a child (whose feet might not yet touch the floor...).

Dance students will get a rare opportunity to learn new choreography, get professional feedback and explore new styles of dance. They can also get advice on competitions.

These professionals will offer 6 hours of classes each day, in their field of expertise. Click for tickets and more details International Ballet Classique is located in Media, PA 19063
Phone: (610) 986-2474

Privateers, buccaneers, marauders, and freebooters... alas, a pirate by any other name is still a pirate. They rob, they plunder, they poach and yet Marcus Hook welcomes them with open arms every September for the biggest, baddest Pirate Bash of the Summer!

The Hook's 9th Annual Pirate Festival is Saturday, September 16th from 11am to 6pm on the banks of the Delaware River... just a few steps from Delco's most recent addition to PA's Historic Registry - The Plank House. Legend has it that the infamous pirate, Captain Blackbeard supposedly kept a mistress there!

Enjoy a full pirate encampment with period tents, demonstrations and pirates showcasing their wares, firearms, cannons and beer making skills. Families will want to steer their way over to the park area for crazy games, great food, live pirate music, face painting, pony rides, a petting zoo, crafters, a beer garden and more.

The Marcus Hook Preservation Society are the owners and caretakers of this one of a kind, hand-sawn plank log house. It is their mission to restore this house to museum quality.

Before summer walks the plank, 'treasure' this fun day on the Delaware River while helping raise money to restore Delco's Pirate Roots.

LOCATION: ON OUR RIVERSIDE
Market St, Marcus Hook, PA 19061

On September 29th The Lansdowne Folk Club presents singer-songwriter Roy Book Binder, a storytelling bluesman who has appeared on TNN’s Nashville Now TV show 30 times with many of country music’s biggest legends and has toured nationally with Bonnie Raitt, JJ Cale and Hot Tuna...

Roy has appeared at the Chicago Blues Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the King Biscuit Blues Festival.

At MerleFest, he has hosted the acoustic blues stage for the past 16 years and he has been invited more than a few times to appear at the world famous, Philadelphia Folk Festival . . . for both the 40th and 50th anniversaries! Rambling around the world for the past 45 years, he’s still on the road entertaining audiences where he is considered a singing - songwriting - storytelling -fingerpicking’ blues legend!Roy Book Binder Website

About the Twentieth Century Club of Lansdowne...
This gracious, 100 year old arts and crafts style building has antique architectural elements including dark walnut accents and stunning oak floors and boasts a terrace and beautiful garden.

Designed by the prominent Philadelphia architectural firm of Heacock and Hokanson and constructed by George Grover of Morton, the Borough acquired the building in 1979 - when the Club became Lansdowne’s community center.

It hosts events year-round, including a concert series by the Lansdowne Folk Club and the annual Lansdowne Arts Festival in September. It can also be rented for wedding receptions, birthday and anniversary parties and other private events. The Twentieth Century Club is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.